13 June 2019, 18:00
On June 6, the Verkhovna Rada approved the bill No.1098 "On temporary committees of inquiry and temporary special (ad hoc) committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine", which provides for an impeachment procedure for the President of Ukraine.
The purpose of the bill is to legislatively regulate the parliament’s powers in defining the status, the procedure for establishment and operation of temporary committees of inquiry, temporary special (ad hoc) committees and special temporary investigative committees for conducting investigation activities during the procedure of ousting the President of Ukraine from his post through the agency of impeachment.
As the document runs, a special motion to be irrevocably signed by the parliamentary majority shall be the only trigger for launching an impeachment procedure and convening a special investigative committee. The law states that the special temporary committee of the Verkhovna Rada is a collegial interim parliamentary body, which includes MPs, a special prosecutor and three special investigators. Parliamentary factions and groups must submit their candidacies within five days from the date of sending them a written request.
The said committee may investigate circumstances concerning committing by the President of Ukraine a high treason or other crimes set forth in the impeachment procedural papers. The committee shall have access to any documents of any official person, including secret ones. The special investigative committee prepares and acknowledges its conclusion on the charges or termination of the impeachment procedure.
The issue is to be then considered by the parliament. If the Verkhovna Rada decides to accuse the president of the crime, it should then appeal to the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Ukraine for their conclusions about the constitutionality of the procedure poised to be launched. The courts have fifteen days to consider this parliamentary appeal.
In case of impeachment, the powers of the Head of State shall then be constitutionally performed by the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. If there are no grounds for the accusation, the special committee prepares its conclusion on termination of the impeachment procedure. In case of such termination, the committee arranges for the relevant information to be then announced by a presiding officer at a plenary meeting of parliament, accompanied by apologies to the president.
The law takes effect from the day following the day of its publication.